Ruth 3:11 (page 125 in The Story) All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. EZRA NEHEMIAH MALACHI “I HAVE LOVED YOU.”

CONCLUSION of the OLD TESTAMENT

“The L ORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become...” - Genesis 6:5

Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. they shall be like wool.

The power of the gospel comes in two movements. It first says, “I am more sinful and flawed than I ever dared believe,” but then quickly follows with, “I am more accepted and loved than I ever dared hope.” -Timothy Keller

Malachi 1:2 “I have loved you,” says the L ORD.

PFFFF.

Malachi 1:2 “I have love you.” says the L ORD. But you ask, “How have you loved us?”

Malachi 1:6 (page 302 in The Story) “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 1:6 (page 302 in The Story) But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ By offering defiled food on my altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’

Malachi 1:7 (page 302 in The Story) When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong?

Why Think Lame Sacrifices are Acceptable? 1.The sin that this sacrifice is atoning for is small

Why Think Lame Sacrifices are Acceptable? 1.The sin that this sacrifice is atoning for is small 2.God is a lower value than personal finance

The People’s Response to Accusations of Sin: How have we shown contempt for your name? (1:6)How have we shown contempt for your name? (1:6) How have we defiled you? (1:7)How have we defiled you? (1:7) How have we wearied him? (2:17)How have we wearied him? (2:17) How are we robbing you? (3:8)How are we robbing you? (3:8) What have we said against you?What have we said against you? (3:13) (3:13)

Malachi 1:10 (page 302 in The Story) “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar!”

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Who can understand it?

Luke 6:44-45 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit... A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.

Malachi 3:8 (page 303 in The Story) Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How are we robbing you? In tithes and offerings.

Matthew 6:21 where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We worship pleasure. We worship comfort. We worship security. We worship prestige. We worship experiences. We worship honor. We worship independence. And money is the tool that enables it all.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

Malachi 3:16 (page in The Story) Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

Malachi 3:17 (page 304 in The Story) “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.”

Malachi 4:1 (page 304 in The Story) “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 4:2 (page 304 in The Story) “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays.”